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CHOBA B CCCP

by Paul McCartney

Released: October 31, 1988

Rock and roll

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Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Ownership Dispute.

The Album

"CHOBA B CCCP (Back in the USSR)" is the seventh solo studio album by Paul McCartney, released in October 1988 exclusively in the Soviet Union. The album features live-in-studio recordings of covers, primarily classic rock and roll songs. In 1987, after various jam sessions, he recorded twenty songs over two days, capturing the essence of his favorite tracks from the 1950s.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

The original Soviet release included 11 tracks, with…

The original Soviet release included 11 tracks, with a subsequent version containing 13, and an international release in 1991 featuring 14 tracks, including additional songs.

In 2019, a remastered edition of the original…

In 2019, a remastered edition of the original 11-track vinyl was released as part of the McCartney catalog.

The album emerged after a lackluster reception to…

The album emerged after a lackluster reception to McCartney's 1986 album Press to Play.

The title, which translates to "Back in the…

The title, which translates to "Back in the U.S.S.R.", pays homage to the Beatles' 1968 song.

McCartney's intent was to release the album as…

McCartney's intent was to release the album as a symbol of peace during the period of glasnost in the Soviet Union, and he collaborated with the Soviet state label Melodiya for its release.

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Explore the Album

Paul McCartney - CHOBA B CCCP

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Then

Reception

The international release in 1991 included a notable misprint in the title and reached #63 in the UK and #109 in the US charts. The album sold over 400,000 copies in its first year and gained attention outside the USSR, fetching high prices in black markets.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"CHOBA B CCCP (Back in the USSR)" is the seventh solo studio album by Paul McCartney, released in October 1988 exclusively in the Soviet Union. The album features live-in-studio recordings of covers, primarily classic rock and roll songs. The original Soviet release included 11 tracks, with a subsequent version containing 13, and an international release in 1991 featuring 14 tracks, including additional songs.

The album emerged after a lackluster reception to McCartney's 1986 album Press to Play. In 1987, after various jam sessions, he recorded twenty songs over two days, capturing the essence of his favorite tracks from the 1950s. The title, which translates to "Back in the U.S.S.R.", pays homage to the Beatles' 1968 song.

McCartney's intent was to release the album as a symbol of peace during the period of glasnost in the Soviet Union, and he collaborated with the Soviet state label Melodiya for its release. The album sold over 400,000 copies in its first year and gained attention outside the USSR, fetching high prices in black markets.

The international release in 1991 included a notable misprint in the title and reached #63 in the UK and #109 in the US charts. Various tracks from the album were also released as B-sides on McCartney's singles from 1987 to 1989. In 2019, a remastered edition of the original 11-track vinyl was released as part of the McCartney catalog.